Mechanism for power operating type actions both to and from the printing point



3,373,857 MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATING TYPE ACTIONS BOTH March 19, 1968 L. J. LAPOINTE TO AND FROM THE PRINTING POINT' 4 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed March 29, 1966 v INVENTOR' LLOYD J. LAPOINTE M. 57% a w ATTORNEYS March 19, 1968 L. J. LAPOINTE 3,373,857

MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATING TYPE ACTIONS BOTH TO AND FROM THE PRINTING POINT Filed March 29, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LLOYD J. LAPOINTE ATTORNEYS March 19, 1968 L. J. LAPOINTE MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATING TYPE ACTIONS BOTH TO AND FROM THE PRINTING POINT 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 29, 1966 March 19, 1968 L. -J. LAPOINTE MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATING TYPE ACTIONS BOTH TO AND FROM THE PRINTING POINT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 29, 1966 United States Patent Ofilice 3,373,857 Patented Mar. 19, 1968 MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATING TYPE ACTIONS BOTH TO AND FROM THE PRINT- ING POINT Lloyd J. Lapointe, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to Litton Business Systems, Inc., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 538,302 8 Claims. (Cl. 197-14) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A typewriter having a common cyclic reciprocatable actuator and type actions arranged to be coupled selectively to the actuator which is operative under spring power to drive an action to printing position, and under motor power to drive said action from printing to returned position.

This invention relates to mechanism for powering type actions from rest to printing position and return; more particularly it relates to such mechanism having a common cyclically operable actuator for driving type actions selectively coupled thereto over their full stroke to printing position and return; and specifically it relates to such mechanism including a charged spring to propel said actuator and a character selection responsive motor controlled link cyclically operable to release said actuator for propulsion by said spring and to restore said actuator and type action.

Various powered type actions utilizing the energy stored in a spring to propel a type bar are known to the art.

Some of these actions employ a power spring individual to each action and utilize motor power to recharge the spring and return the action. These machines require a multiplicity of parts. Other types employ a single power spring to drive a common actuator to which actions may be coupled. In these machines the actuator is motor power returned thereby to recharge the spring but the type action is brought back to rest by an associated return spring. Consequently these latter actions are relatively slow.

In accordance with the present invention a selected type action is spring propelled through the agency of a common actuator which is coupled to a motor powered link. More particularly the selection of a character effects the coupling of its associated action to the common actuator and initiates a machine cycle whereby the actuator is released to drive the selected action under spring power, and after printing, the selected action is driven by the return movement of the actuator to rest position under motor power.

A feature of the present invention results in the fact that the keyboard, printing elements, or type actions, and the control elements are of modular construction thus permitting interchangeability of fonts or keyboards in a basic construction.

An object of the invention is to provide a high speed economical spring propelled type action having a minimum number of elements.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a spring-motor power powered actuator comm-on to all type actions to drive type actions from rest to printing position and return.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described having interchangeable type bar supporting segments and wherein the type bars in each segment may be located wherever desired yet be easily connected to and controlled from a keyboard having standard character key locations.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of type action wherein type impression may be determined at assembly and be independent of cycle time; wherein selection of more than one character will not result in clashing of type bars or printing of either character and will not jam the machine.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a spring powered machine wherein only one type action may be in flight at any time and be capable of typing at a rate of up to 30 characters per second.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view with parts cut away showing type action, selection and drive element supporting structure in a machine constructed in accord ance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view with parts cut away of the machine cycle control elements;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view through the center of the machine showing the elements of FIGURE 1 in rest positions;

FIGURES 3A and 3B are fragmentary views of elements of FIGURE 3 shown in intermediate active positions; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view showing the elements of FIGURE 3 at printing position.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views there is shown in FIGURE 1 an arcuate segment 11 provided with slots 12 to accommodate a plurality of type bars 13 pivotally mounted on a segment supported fulcrum Wire 14 for movement from a rest position (FIGURE 3) to a printing position (FIGURE 4) and return. The character supporting ends of the type bars as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 are supported on a headrest 15 supported by guide rods 16 secured to the forward face of the segment and extending forwardly therefrom. Three guide rods 16 are provided, one located centrally and the others at each end of the segment, to assure smooth motion of the cyclically operable actuator hereinafter described.

The type bars 13 have a gear segment 17 formed on the end adjacent their fulcrums 14 which mesh with the toothed upper edges 18 of racks 19 which are provided with central horizontal slots 21 whereby they may be slidably supported for forward and rearward movement on arcuate guide rods 22 supported in the segment.

Adjacent the rear end of the rectangular toothed rack on its underside there is formed a pivot socket 23 which receives a complimentary shaped upturned end 24 of a coupler link 25 that extends forwardly. The upper edge of the coupler link 25 beyond the forward end of the rack extends upwardly and then forwardly to define a rearwardly facing shoulder 26 and an action interlock surface 27 as will hereinafter appear. The lower edge of the coupler link below the forward edge of the rack extends downwardly, forwardly and upwardly forming an abutment 28. A spring 29 secured to the abutment and to the segment opposite or below the coupler pivot serves to assure that the coupler will normally be held rotated to the inactive position of FIGURE 3. The spring 29 also serves as an impression controller; type actions associated with small area type being provided with stronger springs. Thus from the above each type action comprises a type bar 13, rack 19, coupler 25 and spring 29 mounted in associated segment slots.

The power source for propelling the type actions comprises an arcuate reciprocatable actuator 31 slidably mounted on and guided for movement on the guide rails 16. As viewed in the FIGURES 3 and 3A the rear edge of the actuator 31 is bent downwardly forming a forward drive surface 32 and a rear drive surface 33. The former is operable to engage the shoulder 26 on a selected coupler thereby to power, under the agency of a common power spring 34 connected to the machine sub-frame and to a lug 35 secured centrally of the arcuate actuator, an action to printing position. The rear drive surface 33 is operable when the actuator is motor powered rearwardly to engage the forward end 36 of and to push a rack 19 rearwardly thus returning the type bar. The actuator 31 is adapted to be pulled rearwardly by a link 37 (FIGURES 1-4) secured thereto and which extends rearwardly, its terminal end rotatably supporting cam follower rollers 38. The link just forwardly of the terminal end is formed with an elongated horizontal slot 39, as best seen in FIGURE 3, which receives a shaft 41 comprising the output element of a cycle clutch. The shaft eccentrically carries a double cam 42 the periphery of which is defined by a semi-circular section 43, the circle diameter of which, in the normal position of the cam shown in FIGURE 3, lies on a horizontal line 44 through the center of the cam shaft 41 and the centers of the follower rollers 38, a short straight section 45 tangent to the circle periphery and at right angles to said diameter, and a straight section 46 defined by a chord parallel to and a predetermined distance above said line 44. Normally the straight section 45 of the ca m abuts the follower rollers 38 and holds the link or follower 37 rearwardly in a home position as shown in FIGURE 3; thus the power spring 34 is charged or energized and the forward end of the slot 39 is adjacent the shaft 41. When the cycle clutch is energized, as will hereinafter appear, to effect a 360 clockwise cam excursion as viewed in FIGURE 3, the link 37 is permitted to be drawn forwardly with the actuator under the power of spring 34; this link movement being accommodated by the slot. After approximately a half cycle (FIGURE 4) the semicircular cam periphery 43 acting on the rollers 38 on the link will begin to and draw the link and actuator rearwardly; the actuator drive surface 33 engaging and rearwardly driving the rack 19.

The selection of a type action and the initiation of a printing cycle i.e. the interposition of a coupler shoulder 26 in front of the actuator drive surface 32 and the energization of a clutch cycle is effected by a pull on a sheathed wire 47; the sheath 48 being anchored at suitable points to the machine frame. As shown in FIGURE 3 the terminal end of the wire together with sheathing is bent into a loop 49 and the terminal end 51 of the wire is secured to the sheathing as by being bent back thereover. The loop 49 is coupled via a motion transmitting spring 52 to the depending arm 53 of a trigger element 54 which is located within a slot 55 in and pivoted on a rod 56 supported by an arcuate member 57 located below the type action supporting segment 11. The arcuate member is secured to a U-shaped machine frame member 58 as by screws 59 and outwardly extending end flanges of arcuate segment 11 are secured as by screws 60 to the ends of the arcuate member 57 thus providing for interchangeability of segments. As shown in FIGURE 3 a section of the wire forwardly of the loop section 49 is bared to allow the sheath of loop portion to move forwardly incident to a pull on the wire thus to pull on the spring 52 which will rock the trigger element 54.

A pull on the wire 47 may be effected by energization of a solenoid selected by a code translator and to whose armature the wire may be connected.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGURE 1, the machine may be operated from a keyboard whose keys 61 when depressed rock a crank 62 to which the wires are connected. Obviously, as wires constitute the sole connection between the keyboard and actions, the wires may be variously connected to any type action allowing more efficient placement of character bars in the segment.

In the event that a second key is depressed while the action initiated by a first key is in progress, the action in progress preventing its trigger element associated with the second key from being rocked, as will hereinafter be made clear, the pull on the wire 47 will act to stretch its motion. transmitting spring 52, storing energy for as long as the key remains depressed.

Each trigger element 54 has a forwardly extending arm 63 to which one end of a return spring 64 is connected; its other end being secured to the arcuate member 57 to bias the trigger element counterclockwise as viewed in FIGURE 3. As shown in FIGURE 1 the forwardly extending arms 63 of each trigger element progressively widens and is provided with a rectangular opening 65 in its body. A hole 66 in the forward end of the arm communicates with the rectangular opening and supports a by-pass pin 67. The by-pass pin is biased forwardly by a coiled spring 68 located in the opening engaging a collar 69 on the pin and a fixed pin 70 extending from the back wall of the opening. The by-pass pin 67 is operable when the trigger element is rocked clockwise in response to key depression to engage the lower end of an abutment 28 of and lift the associated coupler element 25 into the path of the actuator drive surface 32.

In accordance with the invention the movement of the coupler 25 to a position in front of the actuator and the energization of a cycle clutch occur substantially simultaneously. The energization of the clutch may be effected mechanically through the action of a common bail positioned to be operable by movement of any of the trigger elements 54 and which is operable in turn, on a clutch trip element. Alternatively as shown in the drawings, the energization of the cycle clutch may be effected electrically by energization of a solenoid 71 (FIGURES l3) in response to the make of a common switch generally designated by numeral 72, responsive to movement of any of the trigger elements or couplers. More particularly, as shown in FIGURES l and 3, the arcuate element 57 is formed with a channel 73 which extends from end to end below or opposite the abutments 28 of the couplers 25. The channel houses a molded two piece plastic switch housing defining compartments; one associated with each type action; The housing comprises a front wall 74 having a rearwardly extending top flange 75, and a back wall 76 having a forwardly extending lower flange 77. The back wall has a plurality of forwardly extending radially spaced ribs 78 which, when the front and back wall are mounted in the channel, form compartments 79. All of the ribs 78 are formed with lower and upper slots 80 defining parallel arcs. A common fixed arcuate contact 81 is threaded through all of the lower slots and a second fixed contact 82 is threaded through all of the upper slots; the second fixed contact 82 having spaced perforations 83 which, when the contacts are located, are within the compartments. Each compartment between the fixed contact carries a conductive spring 84 which rests on the lower contact 81 and a movable ball contact 85 which is supported by and biased upwardly by the spring 84 towards the upper fixed contact 82. In each compartment above the fixed contact there is provided a cylindrical plastic plunger 86 having an enlarged upper portion and a lower shank portion 87 which is mounted in the perforation 83 in the upper fixed contact 82 and is operative on the ball contact to compress the spring when the enlarged upper end, which extends through the opening in the top of each compartment, is depressed by a coupler. The enlarged upper end of the plungers are shaped so as to present a shoulder 88 which cooperates with the top flange 75 of the front wall of the switch housing to limit the upward movement of the plungers. Accordingly, in the normal condition, the circuit between the upper and lower fixed contacts 81 and 82 is open. When a coupler 25 is raised by an associated trigger element 54 the contact spring 84 is free to push the inovable ball contact 85 -upwardly into engagement with the upper contact 82 completing a power circuit 89 to a cycle clutch solenoid 71 which will initiate a cycle to permit the selected coupler and its action to be driven.

The cycle control elements comprise as shown in FIG- URE 2 the. normally stationary shaft 41 rotatably supported in the machine frame. Rotatably mounted on and adjacent one end of the shaft is a pulley 91 adapted to be driven by a motor driven belt 92. Secured to or integrally formed with the hub of the pulley is the driving element 93 of a dog clutch'having axially extending teeth 94. The driven clutch element comprises an axially movable collar 95 rotatably mounted on shaft, and coupled as by a tongue and groove 96 connection to an axially spaced actuator collar 97 which is secured to the shaft. The driven clutch element has axially extending teeth 98 on one end facing the teeth 94 on the driving clutch element. A coiled spring 99 mounted about the collar 97 normally urges the collar toward clutch engagement. The clutch elements are normally held spaced apart by the engagement of a pin 101 extending radially from the collar 95 with a clutch latch element 102 whose end is bifurcated, whereby as the clutch completes a clockwise revolution, the engagement of the pin 101 with a sloping cam leg 103 defined by the bifurcation will axially cam the collar 95 out of engagement and hold it latched. The clutch element is normally biased into clutch latch position by'a spring 104.

When the clutch solenoid 71 is energized its armature 105 will engage an abutment 106 on and thereby rock the latch element clockwise permitting the clutch spring 99 to axially move the collar 95 to clutch engagement initiating a cycle of shaft.

As hereinbefore noted, the shaft 41 carries the double cam 42 which controls the movement of link 37 to permit the power spring 34 to propel the actuator 31 and to positively return the actuator in a revolution.

In operation then, depression of a key 62 will move its associated coupler in front of the shuttle d'ive face 32 (FIGURE 3A) and this coupler movement will permit the solenoid circuit (FIGURES 2 and 3) to be completed thus energizing the solenoid 71. The energization of the solenoid will pull its armature 105 and thereby rock the clutch latch 102 permitting the clutch spring 99 to move the toothed collar 95 into engagement with the driving element 93 of the clutch,'initiating a shaft cycle.

As the shaft rotates the cam clockwise as viewed in FIGURES 3 and 4, presenting the straight section 46 opposite the follower rollers 38, the link will be released permitting the power spring 34 to pull the actuator 31 forwardly driving the action coupled thereto. FIGURE 3B shows the relationship of the actuator, coupler, and rack during drive of the action to printing position. The power spring 34 is effective to drive the type bar to a position just touching the first sheet of, for example, a lO-sheet pack of paper to be printed upon, the momentum of the action effecting impression. During the movement of the action under its momentum the rack moves from the FIGURE 3B to the FIGURE 3 position with its end 36 substantially in contact with the rear face 33 of the actuator at which time the cam 42 as shown in FIGURE 4, acting on the follower rollers 38, draws the link 37 rearwardly thereby power returning the action and recharging the power spring 34.

During the return of the rack and associated coupler the abutment 28 on the latter will act on plunger 86 to open the switch 72 thereby to break the solenoid circuit whereby theclutch latch element 102 will be positioned to engage the pin 101 and to cam the cooperating clutch elements apart to avoid the initiation of a subsequent c cle.

Should a key 62 be depressed overlong such that a trigger element is still elevated, the return movement of the coupler, guided by a shelf 107 on the frame, will push the by-pass pin 67 into the opening 66 thereby to prevent a repeat action until the associated key is restored.

In the event several keys are depressed simultaneously to couple two or more actions to the actuator, the power spring 34 will have insufficient power to drive them to the platen. In the event that two or more bars are so partially driven, they will be power returned during the cycle. Should a second key be depressed while a cycle is in progress, the action interlock-surface 27 of the coupler associated with the second depressed key will encounter the edge 108 of the actuator, said surface being sufiicien'tly long to be blocked by the actuator in any active position thus preventing movement of the coupler and associated'trigger element as hereirrbefore noted. Hence a premature second key depression will only serve to store energy in the associated motion transmitting spring 52. v

The cycle shaft 41 may also be provided with additional cams such as 109 operative on followers to elevate a ribbon and to trip anescapement at proper times in a cycle.

To print upper case the machine contemplates a platen shift mechanism although a segment shift is possible.

Further, the machine may be operated automatically from a record; the trigger elements being operated by solenoids selected by a translator of recorded codes.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a power operated typewriter having a set of type actions and a common reciprocatable actuator movable forwardly from a home position to drive type actions selectively coupled thereto from a rest to a printing position, and movable rearwardly to said home position to drive a driven type action back to rest position, each of said type actions comprising a type bar, a first part positionable forwardly of and adapted to be driven by said actuator during its forward movement, and a second part articulately connected to and movable with said first part and connected to drive said type bar to printing position and return, said second part having an edge located rearwardly of and adapted to be driven by said actuator during its rearward movement,

said type bar being positively mechanically connected to said actuator during substantially the entirety of its forward and backward strokes,

a common power spring connected to draw said actuator forwardly,

a common link connected to draw said actuator rearwardly thereby tensioning said power spring,

a motor powered drive adapted to drive said common link and actuator rearwardly,

cyclic means operable to consecutively, release said link to permit forward movement of said actuator, connect said motor powered drive to said link to drive said link and actuator rearwardly to a home position, and to maintain said link and actuator withdrawn against the urge of said power spring,

and keying means movable to position a selected said first part forwardly of said actuator and to cycle said cyclic means.

2. A power operated typewriter as recited in claim 1 wherein said second part comprises a gear rack and said type bar comprises a gear segment.

3. A power operated typewriter as recited in claim 1 wherein said cyclic means comprises a driven clutch part having a link control cam secured thereto, a driving clutch part continuously driven, means for normally maintaining said clutch parts disengaged and for disengaging said clutch parts each revolution of said driven clutch part, and means for effecting the engagement of said clutch parts in response to the movement of said keying means.

4. A power operated typewriter as recited in claim 1 wherein said actuator has an arcuate shape, and wherein said set of type bars are mounted on an inner arcuate segment and wherein said keying means are mounted on an outer arcuate segment, said inner segment being secured to said outer segment, said inner segment including means for guiding said arcuate actuator.

5. A power operated typewriter as recited in claim 1 wherein said first parts extend forwardly of and underly said actuator thereby to block positioning movement of a said first part during movement of said actuator.

6. A power operated typewriter as recited in claim 5 wherein said keying means comprises an element rockable in response to a keying signal thereby to elevate an associated said first part forwardly of said actuator, and means responsive to the movement of a said first part for generating a cycle signal 7. A power operated typewriter as recited in claim 6 wherein said keying means includes a keyboard and wires connected between keys on said keyboard and associated rockable elements to transmit keying signals to said rockable elements. I

8. A power operated typewriter as recited in claim 7 wherein said wires are connected to said rockable ele ments through motion transmitting springs whereby it a rockable element is blocked, energy is stored in its associated spring for as long as its associated key remains depressed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,156,061 10/1915 Crawley 197-17 1,156,288 10/1915 Hansberg 19714 1,455,112 5/1923 Crawley 197l7 1,667,773 5/1928 Degener 197-17 1,732,370 10/1929 Leyvraz 19714 2,353,803 7/1944 Avery et a1 l9717 2,812,048 11/1957 Tibbling 19717 2,773,931 12/1956 Kleinschmidt et al. l9717 X 2,825,440 3/1958 Bouder et a1 19717 2,833,387 5/1958 Lake et al. 197-14 3,151,72 10/1964 Salto 19717 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

E. S. BURR, Examiner. 

